Writing

one more example of the need for proofreading
2/12/2012 4:04:27 PM by: Elsi

One of my favorite signs shows two young people with forks, looking at an elderly woman. Below are two lines:

Let's eat, Grandma! Let's eat Grandma.

Commas save lives!

I read a review copy of Northbound by Stuart Griffin (Aspect Books) as part of the BookCrash book review program.

The story itself is pretty good. I never got really involved with any of the characters, and I skimmed the preachy bits, but the action and interaction kept my interest. If the author brought the manuscript to my critique group, we would encourage him to keep working on it, because it’s well worth the trouble. We’d suggest more “show-don’t-tell,” less backstory description, and more depth in the characters.

And we’d suggest Griffin find someone to check his facts, and hire a proofreader. I spent 10 minutes on the internet when a kindly sheriff in 1851 told the grieving husband, “I wish your wife were safe here in our motel.” Sorry, folks—motel is short for motor-hotel, and was coined in 1925.

As far as proofreading is concerned, for about 10 pages I tried to write down every error: they’re/there/their, your/you’re, peak/peek, spit/spite, striped/stripped, my/may, anger/angry … and gave up at beinning for beginning, because even spellcheck would have spotted that one.

I tend to feel this is inexcusable, and it’s a crying shame when the story itself is a good one. As a special education teacher, I’m fully aware that the ability to spell is innate; you’re either born with it or you’re not. Sure, you can improve your spelling, and you can learn tricks of the trade. But the simplest “trick” is to find someone to double-check your work before you turn it in. Mr. Griffin, would you like to join my remedial writing skills class for a few hints? Or pay me to proofread for you? Then you can go back and rewrite this, because it has a lot of potential!